Let the election process take its course By Dj Mathal

Yet another tenure of the so-called Northern Areas Legislative Assembly (NALA), which was formed as an advisory council to legislate on the local issues during the Ayub era, expires in October this year. The members elected to the house five years back seem to have utterly failed to bring basic changes in the socio-economic life of the masses let alone speak for the bigger issue of constitutional identity of the region. This is the reason these members overtly and covertly have been demanding of the PPP-led government to extend the tenure of the powerless house for another three years. This is beyond comprehension why the members of the so-called assembly who have failed to do anything for the masses during the last five years could do any better if given another change to enjoy perks and privileges for three more years. Everybody in the region knows that whether to extend the tenure of the present powerless assembly or dissolve it under any package before its term expires, that makes no difference at all as far as the common people and their life are concerned. There is going nothing to happen in their socio-economic condition or human rights conditions. As time passes, the issue of Gilgit-Baltistan gets more complicated in terms of political, constitutional and human rights aspects. As the world becomes a global village, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan remain isolated and live in the Stone Age. When we speak to the members of the so-called assembly, they start giving sermons on their state of powerlessness and put the blame for all the deprivation of the people on the Kana division in Islamabad. In fact, these 'honorable' members never showed unity in the house to get their importance and powers acknowledged like their counterparts in provinces of Pakistan or Azad Kashmir. Today they are powerless even in front of a lowly section officer at the Kana division. We have also seen these members either at the airports of Gilgit-Baltistan in wait of some visiting minister or any other Pakistani official or outside any office at the Kana division seeking to get help in approval of some contracts so that a few rupees can go to their pockets as well. They never do anything for the welfare of the region or for winning the confidence and support of the masses of the region. However, there may be a few exceptions. Irony of the matter is that when elections for the house approach these members start their gimmicks and succeed in hoodwinking the innocent masses. Each one of these members will be seen visiting each and far flung localities of their respective areas and begging for votes and promising revolutionary steps if voted to power.. When reminded of their performance in the past, they would be starting cursing the officials in the Kana division putting all blames on them for the miseries of the region and their inability to serve the masses.Though we understand that the legislative assembly has no worth, even then it is the duty of the people's representatives to devise a way out for them and use any forum available to ensure basic rights so far denied to them. It is a fact that the assembly is powerless but the process of election should continue in order to strengthen democracy. At present, the people of Gilgit-Baltistan have only this forum to convey their voice to the international community. Therefore, we think that at present there is no any other forum except this assembly for use to speak out against all injustices.We understand that the local politicians would never even try to understand the political social economic and geographical identity of the region due to their own vested interests. When someone dares to raise voice against the political and constitutional rights of the region, there appeared vested interests who misled the masses under the slogans of federalism. These so called federalists despite pampering at the hands of the rulers never become sincere even to their masters.We appeal to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan to let the election to the powerless legislative assembly take place as scheduled because repeated and regular elections helps the people get political maturity. It also may lead to a time when people get their rights through the political process.

(www.weeklybaang.blogspot.com)